Month: January 2024

Blissfull Lady’s staying credentials shine in Northland Cup

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Blissfull Lady winning at Ruakaka on Friday. Photo: Therese Davis (Race Images) The lightly raced Blissfull Lady boasts the pedigree of a quality stayer, and she stepped up in distance on Friday and produced a performance worthy of those bloodlines in the Northland Cup (2200m) at Ruakaka. Blissfull Lady is a son of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner Shocking and the Prized mare Prize Lady, who herself was a back-to-back winner of the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) in 2007 and 2008. Prize Lady has passed on some…

Family affair for Cole at Ruakaka

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Per La Vita winning at Ruakaka on Friday. Photo: Therese Davis (Race Images) A classy front-running ride from Tegan Newman provided Steven Cole with a special victory at Ruakaka on Friday with Per La Vita. Based out of Byerley Park, Cole has a team of around 25 gallopers in training, of which many are shared in ownership with his father, David Cole. However, when Cole purchased Per La Vita at the 2022 National Yearling Sales, his mother elected to take a share in the filly and was duly rewarded when…

Family affair at Ruakaka for Cole

NZRacingDesk

A classy front-running ride from Tegan Newman provided Steven Cole with a special victory at Ruakaka on Friday with Per La Vita. Based out of Byerley Park, Cole has a team of around 25 gallopers in training, of which many are shared in ownership with his father, David Cole. However, when Cole purchased Per La Vita at the 2022 National Yearling Sales, his mother elected to take a share in the filly and was duly rewarded when she broke through for her maiden victory in The Whangapiro Valley Free Range…

Holymanz vying Aotearoa Classic berth

NZRacingDesk

Almanzor four-year-old Holymanz will be vying to secure his ticket back to New Zealand later this month when he heads to Geelong on Saturday to contest the A$300,000 Coastal Classic (1700m). Raced by Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Holymanz is earmarked to head to Ellerslie on January 27 for the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) if he performs up to expectations this weekend. “We are hoping that he runs well enough tomorrow to put himself in the picture for the $1 million race on Karaka Million…

Candle looking to ignite black-type opportunity

NZRacingDesk

There will be plenty of local interest at the Hastings meeting on Saturday, with Candle looking to prove she is a black-type mare in the making in the Complete Flooring HB Handicap (1200m). Apprentice jockey Lily Sutherland was given praise after a smart ride aboard Candle last start at the Hastings course, coming from last on the home turn to storm down the rail in a slick 33.57 last 600m. Sutherland is booked to partner the daughter of Super Easy on Saturday in the Rating 75 contest, which is a…

Patterson in hot holiday form

NZRacingDesk

Robbie Patterson’s stable has been firing on all cylinders since Boxing Day, including a four-win haul at Otaki on Thursday, and now the New Plymouth trainer has Saturday’s iconic Kumara Gold Nuggets meeting in his sights. Patterson saddled winners at Otaki on Boxing Day, New Plymouth on December 27 and Greymouth on January 3, along with a valuable black-type placing by Mary Louise in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day. But he went to a new level at Otaki on Thursday with four wins…

HRNZ Awards Age Group Contenders

NZHarnessNews

The best of the best will be crowned at the 2023 season NZB Standardbred Harness Racing Awards at Addington on Monday, 19 February. There will be 16 age-group awards – eight each for the pacers and trotters. The Trotter and Pacer of the Year will then square off for the ultimate accolade – Horse of the Year. Here is the list of all the age group contenders Tickets to the awards will be on sale within the next two weeks

Holymanz poised to chase Aotearoa Classic riches

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Holymanz will contest the $300,000 Coastal Classic (1700m) at Geelong on Saturday. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Holymanz will be vying to secure his ticket back to New Zealand later this month when he heads to Geelong on Saturday to contest the A$300,000 Coastal Classic (1700m). Raced by Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Holymanz is earmarked to head to Ellerslie on January 27 for the $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) if he performs up to expectations this weekend. “We are hoping that he runs well enough tomorrow to put himself…

Candle looking to continue purple patch at Hastings

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Candle will seek back-to-back victories at Hastings on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) There will be plenty of local interest at the Hastings meeting on Saturday, with Candle looking to prove she is a black-type mare in the making. Apprentice jockey Lily Sutherland was given praise after a smart ride aboard Candle last start at the Hastings course, coming from last on the home turn to storm down the rail in a slick 33.57 last 600m. Sutherland is booked to partner the daughter of Super Easy on…

James McDonald chasing Karaka Millions success

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James McDonald will ride in New Zealand for the first time since 2020. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Champion Sydney jockey James McDonald is gearing up for a homecoming at the Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie on January 27. After a successful stint in Hong Kong, where he rode 15 winners in five weeks, McDonald is set to ride Roger James and Robert Wellwood’s Orchestral in the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO and Stephen Marsh’s Velocious in the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO. McDonald, who last rode in New Zealand…